FOR Malcolm Christie a new life at Middlesbrough could not have started much better - two goals in four starts are testament to that.

And after the standing ovation the former Derby County man received when he was replaced late in the second half against Charlton, it is little wonder he has settled in so quickly.

The Riverside faithful may be a fan of the attacking flair shown by skilful players in the mould of Juninho, but they are as equally appreciative when they see someone channeling all their energy into helping Boro claim a result.

And on Saturday Christie did exactly that and he scored the crucial equalising goal to boot - the first he has scored down by the River Tees since moving in January.

Many supporters eventually turned on Croatian Alen Boksic because they felt he did not pull his weight when not in possession of the ball.

But Christie, the man who is now filling the departing Boksic's position up front, insisted he will never adopt a lackadaisical approach to football.

"That's what you will get from me: Hard work, determination and I will give my all for every single game," said the former shelf-stacker, who has risen to his Premiership football status the hard way.

"I want to build a good rapport with them and that's something I will continue to do. If I do that I will get my rewards on the goal front as well."

The 1-1 draw with Charlton wasn't the result either club wanted in their bid for European qualification.

The seventh-placed Addicks are four points clear of Boro with just seven games remaining.

Both sides knew three points were vital in their respective bids to stake a claim for the top six, and a place in the UEFA Cup is still not being ruled out by the Teessiders.

Last week Juninho and skipper Gareth Southgate both revealed their hopes that Boro could force their way into a European berth, and now, despite earning just a point on Saturday, Christie believes it remains possible.

But the 23-year-old insists if that target does not come to fruition over the coming weeks then it will not be disastrous - pointing to next season as a crucial year.

"We had this game down as a must win game so really it is two points dropped," said Christie, whose goal ensured Boro stretched their unbeaten run to six games.

"But anything's possible; there's still games to go and if we can keep picking up points then who knows?

"We have got a winning mentality here and there's no reason why we shouldn't be pushing for those top six places.

"European football is something every player wants to achieve. Playing on the international stage is something everyone wants to do.

"But if we can't do it this season then we want to do it next season and the gaffer is trying to achieve that."

Should Boro qualify for the UEFA Cup, then on the basis of the first half performance, an early exit is certainly on the cards.

But, conversely, for most of the second period most teams would have struggled to cope with the forward-thinking of a Boro side completely transformed after the introductions of Franck Queudrue and Michael Ricketts.

However, despite the home side's resurgence after the restart, Charlton had already gained the upper hand from a first half in which they dominated.

Alan Curbishley appeared to have got his tactics spot on. He had given Bulgarian Radostin Kishishev the unenviable task of tracking Juninho wherever the Brazilian roamed.

And, but for a through ball wasted by Maccarone early on, the Boro star was largely ineffective as Kishishev proved his worth for the visitors.

With Juninho quiet, Charlton found more space in the attacking third than they could have wished for - with Kevin Lisbie's pace a constant threat.

First the young striker made 19-year-old David Murphy look like a cart-horse with a bursting run down the right, cutting inside Southgate as well before strike partner Jonatan Johansson's shot was saved by Mark Schwarzer.

But soon after, on 26 minutes, Lisbie broke free again and played an incisive ball in between the Boro rearguard and Johansson went clean through, dummied, before coolly slotting beyond the Boro keeper.

Boro, though, have lost just once at home all season and McClaren's decision to bring on Queudrue, for Murphy, and Ricketts, at the expense of out of sorts Maccarone, changed the game.

Geremi hit the cross bar with a stinging free-kick and Charlton keeper Dean Kiely made a good save from a Juninho effort before Boro pulled level on 57 minutes.

Queudrue's pin-point cross from the left was met by Christie at the near post and the latter placed his shot beyond Kiely.

It was exactly what Boro deserved but in the final stages the hosts had to be alert as Charlton rallied and Schwarzer denied Jason Euell and the woodwork stopped Paul Konchesky's free-kick from earning the Londoners all the points.

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